In the circular hall covered in metal patterns, the air seemed to freeze.
Ikhtiyar stood in the shadows at the edge of the formation, her gaze locked on the center of the hall.
Columbina lay curled up on the cushion. Around her body, root-like light patterns flickered uncertainly between bright and dim. With every alternation of light and shadow, a heart-palpitating fluctuation of destructive energy diffused outward—extremely unstable, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Ikhtiyar tentatively took a half-step forward.
Hum—
The energy fluctuation abruptly intensified, causing the very air to tremble. The curled figure did not seem to move, yet the surging energy from her core became even more violent, carrying a resolve for mutual destruction.
Ikhtiyar immediately retracted her foot, backed away, and turned to walk toward the transparent partition at the side of the hall. Lessing was standing before a cluster of instrument screens, frowning as he inspected the scrolling streams of data.
"What was the use of your earnest persuasion earlier?" Ikhtiyar made no secret of her irritation. "She doesn't buy your act at all. Now look, she's become a hedgehog that explodes at the slightest touch."
Lessing's gaze did not leave the screen as he spoke unhurriedly. "If she were willing to submit, many of the Kingdom's subsequent goals could be achieved more smoothly, and with lower risk."
He paused, his finger sliding across a line of abnormal data on the screen. "I underestimated the importance of that mechanical creation to her. Nor did I expect that, even with her Authority partially stolen and her spatial perception disturbed, she could still use the Ley Line network to probe the outside world and even cause damage."
"What do we do now?" Ikhtiyar crossed her arms, glancing back at the center of the hall. The Moon God remained motionless, her face buried in the crook of her arm, expression hidden. Only the dangerous light patterns on her body silently declared a threat that allowed no approach.
"We can't kill her, and we can't persuade her. Get even slightly close, and she adopts a stance of dragging us down with her."
"We just need one last time." Lessing finally turned around, his expression calm. "The core data has mostly been collected. Afterward, using the portion of pitch-black power we already control, we can attempt to mimic a spatial Authority sufficient to stably connect to the outside of the world. By then, we will no longer need to rely on the power of the Three Moons."
He looked at Ikhtiyar. "At that time, I will make one final attempt to persuade her to serve the Kingdom. If that fails..." His voice held no fluctuation. "You kill her. It will save us from having a troublesome enemy later."
"Fine." Ikhtiyar curled her lip. "So how do we conduct this last experiment? Wasn't part of the venue destroyed by her?"
"That counts for nothing," Lessing said, walking toward another device. "We simply use the extracted and stored pitch-black power to temporarily mimic a substitute formation area."
The Moon Spirit carrying the storage bronze mirror encountered almost no obstacles. It smoothly crossed the desert and entered the range of the rainforest. Flying toward that giant tree which was as colossal as a mountain, it drilled into a dense cluster of plants near the edge of the city's architectural zone and released Coppelia.
It was already evening, and the light within the forest was dim.
Wearing an ill-fitting, loose black robe, Coppelia identified her bearings and began walking toward the area where the Akademiya was located. She asked for directions from passing scholars or residents several times, her footsteps never ceasing. Finally, she stopped in front of a scholar's residence that appeared quiet and plain.
Shortly after the knock sounded, the door opened. Suleiman stood in the doorway, momentarily stunned when he saw Coppelia. Her attire was completely different from before, and Columbina's figure was absent from her side. A vague guess formed in his heart.
"Do you need me, or Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's help again?" Suleiman stepped aside to let her in, asking directly after closing the door.
"Yes." Coppelia did not sit down; she stood in the center of the living room. "Columbina is in trouble. I want to ask you to help me rescue her."
"What happened?"
"That 'good friend' of yours, Kelvin, screwed us over badly." Coppelia's voice was cold.
Suleiman frowned upon hearing Kelvin's name. Ever since the day the camp was attacked, this friend had been missing, and he had harbored suspicions. "What... happened to him?"
"That guy has been one of Khaenri'ah's people for a long time," Coppelia said. "That day, he tricked Columbina into teleporting back to the old camp, claiming to retrieve important technical data of the Scarlet King. In reality, there was an ambush waiting. We were sneak-attacked, and Columbina was captured and taken underground.
"They are conducting an experiment utilizing the power of the Three Moons. The goal is to use this to open a passage, go outside the world, and obtain the power of the Abyss."
Suleiman stood frozen in place for a long while after listening, the color slowly draining from his face. After some time, he spoke with difficulty: "They... have already obtained the Rainbow Moon and the Eternal Moon?"
Coppelia raised her hand and tapped her abdomen through the black robe. "The Eternal Moon's Essence is currently with me."
Having seen the living Frost Moon God, Suleiman did not show too much surprise at this news. He was more concerned about another matter. "What exactly did Kelvin do? How is he now?"
"You and he are friends," Coppelia said. "Ask him yourself."
"Where is he?"
Coppelia did not answer; she simply shook the storage bronze mirror in her hand.
A light flashed, and Kelvin appeared on the living room floor. He had few clothes on, his hands and feet were still bound by vines, and there were uncleaned bloodstains and sand on his face and body. Upon appearing, he immediately looked around vigilantly. When he saw Suleiman, his expression softened slightly, but as soon as his gaze touched Coppelia, he immediately looked away.
Suleiman's eyes flashed with surprise, but he moved quickly. He immediately turned into the inner room to fetch a set of his own clean clothes, returned to help Kelvin untie the vines, draped the clothes over him, and supported him to sit on the sofa. Then, he walked to the small stove nearby to boil hot water and took out some simple food, placing it on the low table in front of Kelvin.
Coppelia walked behind the sofa, arms crossed, waiting in silence.
Kelvin picked up the cup of warm water and took a sip. He spoke first, his voice somewhat hoarse: "You look like you have many questions you want to ask."
Suleiman glanced at Coppelia first, then turned to Kelvin, asking directly, "Khaenri'ah gathered the power of the Three Moons to obtain the Abyss power from outside the world, correct?"
"No need to beat around the bush." Kelvin put down the water cup, his face expressionless. "She brought me to find you because she wants you to help her rescue that Moon God and destroy the experiment, right?"
"The power of the Abyss is too dangerous." Suleiman's voice was deep. "Even if she didn't come, if I knew about this, I would think of a way to stop it."
"Why stop it?" Kelvin looked at Suleiman. "That is power that can let us transcend the world."
"That is power that will bring destruction!"
"Become the Abyss, control the Abyss," Kelvin said slowly. "Then wouldn't we avoid destruction?"
"The Abyss cannot be controlled, it cannot even be truly understood. It will only bring madness and disaster..." Suleiman's tone became urgent.
Kelvin interrupted him: "Like that experiment accident in the desert many years ago, where only I survived?"
____
👻🔥Walnut-chan in "P" for more!🔥👻
🔥 New history: Group chat of the Dead
✅ Get immediate access to 40 early chapters for all stories.
✅ Enjoy exclusive material and special announcements!
Help us unlock these community rewards:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters across ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnut-chan